Game apparatus



March 24, 1925.

H. P. OLCOTT/ GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1923 //W VE TOR A TTOR NE Patented Mar. 24, 1925..

UNITED STATES HERMAN P. OLCOTT, OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT.

, GAIiIE APPARATUS.

Application filed January 26, 1923. SerialNo. 614,962.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HERMAN P. OLCOTT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of l/Vallingford, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to game apparatus particularly adapted to be used in the playing of a game which, while more or less fas cinating in its nature, is intended primarily to stimulate the development of certain mus cles by necessitating the function of such in the execution of the plays incident to the The game in which the device embodying my invention is adapted to be used may he participated in by any number of players and briefly stated consists in the tossing of a ball from one player to the other by means of the device and in catching the ball by means of the device when so delivered, certain rules as to penalties, scoring, etc., being observed to lend interest, develop skill and promote competition among the players.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned which may be easily varied or changed to meet varying conditions as the player or players become more skillful and as certain muscles which the game is intended to stimulate become more and more developed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the device embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a central sectional view of an insert or filler adapted to be associated with the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a central sectional view of an insert similar to that shown in Figure 2 but of a slightly different contour.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing a particular form of clamping screw, adapted to be used in securing the inserts shown in Figures 2 and 3, in position when associated with the device shown in Figure 1.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown what I at present consider the preferred form of my invention, the numeral 5 indicates aball-receiving and delivering device, which comprises a cup-shaped or ball-receiving portion 6, so

formed as to provide a relatively deep cavity 7, the cup-shaped portion 6 being integrally attached or otherwise secured to an elongated handle 8. The cup-shaped portion 6 is provided centrally with an opening 9, and is cut away adjacent the opening to provide a recess 10, the purpose of which will hereinafter become apparent.

The device so far described is intended to be used by a more or less unskilled player, primarily because of the relatively deep cavity 7, which enables one to readily catch and easily retain the ball. Furthermore thedevice as illustrated in Figure 1 is particularly adapted for the beginner for the reason that the same is relatively light and may be easily manipulated by a player the muscles of whom are insufficiently developed as a beginner to permit the use of a heavier device.

As the player continues to participate in the game, he not only becomes more skillful but those of his muscles, which are brought into play, become stronger and more developed. It is therefore desirable to vary not only the weight of the device shown in Figure 1, but also desirable to change the contour of the recess 7 so that the catching of the ball is rendered more difficult. These two changes are made possible by an insert or filler, indicated as a whole by the numeral 11. The curvilinear face 12 of this filler is such as to snugly lit the contour of the recess 7, whereas its face 13 is so shaped that when the insert or filler is positioned within the cupshaped portion 6 the cavity thereof is rendered more shallow. It will be ap preciated, therefore, that by inserting the filler 11 the weight of the device shown in Figure 1 is increased tomeet the require ments incident to the development of ones muscles, and at the same time the ball-receiving element 6 is so altered as to render the device as a whole well adapted to the more skillful player.

sary to again alter the device shown in Figure 1 in so far' as its weight and the contour of the cavity 7 are concerned, and to effect this further alteration I provide an insert or filler 17, shown in Figure 3. This insert is also formed with a screw-threaded opening 18, adapted for the reception of the clamping screw 14 and is of-such a shape as to snugly fit the cavity 7. It will be noted, however, that the insert '17 is somewhat thicker than the insert 11 and as a result of this variation in thickness the cavity 7 is rendered more shallow when the insert 'llis removed and the insert 17 substituted therefor. lVhile I have shown only two inserts, namely thoseindicated by the numerals 11 and 17 respectively, it will be understood that, as many of these inserts, varying in Weight andshape, may be employed as are deemed necessary to take care of theplayers gradual development .of skill and strength. It willbe further understood that while it have not specified the particular material from which the devieeshown in Figure 1 and the inserts'shown in Figures 2 and are constructed, such materials as aluminum, Wood, fiber or similar materials may be emloyed.

'lVhile I have shown and described what I at present consider the preferred form oi the device, it willbe understood that various changes in the size and shape of parts em- .bodied therein may be resorted'to without Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising a ballreceiving element, and an insert arranged within said element, saidinsert being of a pivencontour and adapted to be removed to vary "the contour of the ball-receiving element. I

2. A game apparatus comprising a ballreceiving element, aninsert arranged within said element said insert'being of avgivcn contour and adapted to be'removed to vary the contour of the ball-receiving element, and means for looking-said insert iii-position within said ball-receiving element.

3. In a game apparatus,'the combination with a ball-receiving pocket having at given contour, of a plurality of inserts having different contours, said inserts being adapted to be positioned within and'removed from said ball-receivingelement to vary the contour of said ball-receivingelement.

4. In a game apparatus,the combination with a ball-receiving pocket having a given contour, of aplurality oi inserts having dif- 'ferent contours, saidi-nserts being adapted to be .positionedwithin and removed from said ball-receiving element to varythe contour of said ball-receiving elementyand means common to all ofsaid inserts forretaining them properly ,positioned within said ball-receiving.element. v v

In testimony whereofll have atlixed my signature to this specification.

HERMAN P. OLGOTT. 

